SpaceX unveil stylish new passenger spaceship

The Dragon capsule is an upgraded version of the cargo model (Picture: AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Space Exploration Technologies, or Space X, has unveiled a new passenger version of the cargo ship it currently supplies to NASA for resupply runs to the International Space Station.

The new Dragon capsule, an upgrade on the cargo model, has powerful motors and landing legs so it can make precise landings rather than parachuting into the ocean.

‘This is how a 21st century spaceship should land,’ said Elon Musk, the Space X founder and chief executive.

The billionaire technology entrepreneur, 42, who also runs the Tesla Motors inc. electric car company, revealed the new Dragon’s design to an expectant crowd of 32,500 at the Space X headquarters in California.

Lifting the hatch, Mr Musk entered into the stylish and roomy flight deck, where he settled into a seat and pulled down the control panel from the ceiling, which resembled a flatscreen TV.